A provocative hypothesis circulating suggests Carlos Sainz might face challenges reclaiming his position in the Ferrari cockpit this season.
During the race in Saudi Arabia, following an urgent appendectomy that sidelined the Spanish competitor, Oliver Bearman, an 18-year-old newcomer from Britain, caught the spotlight with his performance.
"He did very well," stated ex-Haas chief Gunther Steiner, who attended a motorsport event in Adelaide over the weekend, during an interview with Ziggo Sport.
"He is a very good driver - very stable and calm. He didn't want to go too fast. He took his chance, but did not aim for a podium place.
"If he had given 10 percent more and crashed, he would be known as the boy who did something stupid and didn't take his chance. Now people have something to think about," Steiner remarked further.
Bearman's recent showcase has now significantly boosted his prospects for a potential full-time entry into Formula 1 with the Ferrari-affiliated squad previously managed by Steiner, prior to his departure this past winter.
Jack Plooij, a reporter from the Netherlands, however, believes Bearman might be given another opportunity to don the Ferrari red in the upcoming Melbourne race.
"Sainz won't make it," he suggests. Currently, Sainz, aged 29, is en route to Australia from Europe, following a week's recuperation. Yet, he notably made a slow and painful return to the Jeddah paddock merely a day post-surgery.
"I thought that was very strange," commented former F1 racer Robert Doornbos. "I think it was political - to say 'don't write me off yet, I'm still here'."
In light of Sainz's impending replacement by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari next season, considering a switch to Bearman straight away seems logical—especially since Sainz will be transferring developmental knowledge to a competing team by 2025.
"Everyone is saying that he will no longer have access to this or that, so why not? And if Bearman wins in Australia, what then?" Plooij speculates.
Luis Perez-Sala, a former Formula 1 driver and once advisor to the now-dissolved HRT team, believes the acquisition of Hamilton by Ferrari could have wounded Sainz's ego.
"For sure," he conveyed to the AS newspaper. "It is very difficult for me to understand a decision like that before starting a season. It's not a good thing for your current driver or your team.
"They are all very professional, but it is not the ideal situation. I think that of all the available drivers, he is the best possible option for any team that wants to fight for the world championship.
"He would be good for Mercedes, and quite possibly for Red Bull as well," added Perez-Sala.
